The Scottish Government has confirmed that a one-off £255.80 payment will be issued to individuals receiving specific disability benefits before the end of 2025.
This payment, which targets disabled children and young people, is designed to assist with the additional energy costs typically experienced during the winter months. The initiative follows previous years’ payments, helping families manage financial strains.
According to a report by DailyRecord, the scheme will be available to recipients of PIP, DLA, and related benefits, ensuring those eligible receive the financial support they need. Payments will begin in late October, continuing through early next year.
What Is the Payment?
The payment is part of the Child Winter Heating Payment, a scheme unique to Scotland.
It applies to children and young people under the age of 19 who receive the Child Disability Payment, Adult Disability Payment (ADP), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), or Disability Living Allowance for Children (DLA).
The scheme is designed to assist with additional heating costs as winter approaches.
This year, the payment will increase by £20.10, bringing the total amount to £255.80.
The increase comes as a response to rising energy costs and is aimed at providing additional financial support to families with disabled children and young people.
Eligibility for the Payment
To qualify for the £255.80 payment, individuals must be receiving one of the mentioned benefits during the third week of September, which is the qualifying week.
This payment is issued automatically, meaning there’s no need for a separate application unless specific conditions apply. If more than one child or young person in a household qualifies, each will receive the full payment.
In the previous winter, more than 37,000 disabled children and young people received a £235.70 payment to help with their heating costs, showing the wide reach of the program.
The £255.80 payment is provided per child or young person, not per household. Individuals who receive a backdated payment for qualifying benefits during the qualifying week will also be eligible for the heating payment.
When Will the Payments Be Made?
Payments are issued automatically into the same account where people receive their qualifying benefits, and they usually start being deposited into bank accounts at the end of October.
The payments will continue in batches until February 2026, providing financial support over the colder months.
As part of a transition, PIP claimants living in Scotland will move to Adult Disability Payment (ADP) over the coming weeks.
At the time of writing, 35,420 PIP recipients are in the process of transferring to ADP.
This shift affects a significant number of existing claimants, and the payment scheme will also apply to them.
